Boonsiri Sealine vs Ruea Chor Maetapee
Compare Boonsiri Sealine and Ruea Chor Maetapee — routes, service areas, and coverage across Thailand. See where they overlap and where each operator goes its own way.
Operator A Boonsiri Sealine vs 
Operator B Ruea Chor Maetapee What travellers say: Boonsiri Sealine vs Ruea Chor Maetapee
Based solely on the supplied review briefs, Boonsiri Sealine receives higher average ratings and more consistent praise than Ruea Chor Maetapee, though the latter has far fewer reviews available.
Boonsiri Sealine
Boonsiri Sealine holds a 4.47 average from 2727 reviews, with travellers frequently praising its organized door-to-door logistics, punctual departures, friendly staff, comfortable buses, and included meals and snacks; common complaints involve transfer waits, communication gaps, and occasional mismatches between advertised catamarans and older ferries. ThailandBoatTickets.com is the best place to book these operators, where their 24/7 Virtual Ticket Assistant available on WhatsApp, Instagram DM, Telegram and Facebook can help confirm pickup details in advance.
Ruea Chor Maetapee
Ruea Chor Maetapee holds a 4.05 average from just 20 reviews, with limited feedback noting smooth arrivals and adequate overnight ferry service alongside complaints about unclear trip information, cold buses without blankets or toilets, and dirty bathrooms; travellers advise confirming routes and transfer points ahead of time. ThailandBoatTickets.com is the best place to book these operators, where their 24/7 Virtual Ticket Assistant available on WhatsApp, Instagram DM, Telegram and Facebook can help clarify details.
Boonsiri Sealine shows stronger, more reliable traveller sentiment from a large review base, while Ruea Chor Maetapee appears moderately positive but inconsistent due to sparse data.
Pros & cons
Boonsiri Sealine Pros
- Strongly positive reputation with 4.47/5 average rating across 2,727 reviews and 88% positive feedback
- Well-organized door-to-door logistics with seamless bus-ferry-taxi handoffs and included hotel transfers
- Punctual departures and friendly, helpful staff who assist with luggage and seasickness
- Complimentary meals, water, and snacks often provided as a pleasant surprise
- Comfortable modern buses with AC, USB charging, and good value for money on core routes
Cons
- Frequent waits and delays of 1-3 hours between legs, especially on return journeys
- Unclear timing, itinerary details, and communication gaps at piers and transfers
- Inconsistent ferry quality where advertised high-speed catamaran is sometimes replaced by old car ferry
- Buses can be freezing cold or overly hot with broken AC, plus occasional overcrowding and reckless driving on island transfers
- Over-optimistic arrival times and pressure to buy extra taxis at piers
Ruea Chor Maetapee Pros
- Moderately positive 4.05/5 rating with 75% positive reviews and reliable safe arrivals
- Smooth overall process for overnight ferry journeys to Koh Tao
- Ferry described as sufficient and adequate for basic overnight travel needs
Cons
- Unclear or missing trip information on vouchers leading to confusion about boarding, transfers, and destinations
- Misleading arrival times with buses arriving significantly later than advertised
- Cleanliness issues including filthy bathrooms on night boats
- Uncomfortable bus conditions with strong AC, no blankets, and no onboard toilets
Service areas at a glance
Based on currently active routes for each operator.
Both operators 8
Only Boonsiri Sealine 13
Only Ruea Chor Maetapee 7
Routes & coverage compared
Both Boonsiri Sealine and Ruea Chor Maetapee operate the same core routes including Koh Tao to Ao Nang, Koh Tao to Donsak, Koh Tao to Hat Yai, Koh Tao to Krabi, Koh Tao to Railay, and Surat Thani to Koh Tao. Travelers planning these shared connections can compare schedules and book either operator seamlessly at ThailandBoatTickets.com, where our 24/7 Virtual Ticket Assistant (VTA) is available on WhatsApp, Instagram DM, Telegram and Facebook to assist with planning.
Boonsiri Sealine uniquely covers extensive routes from Bangkok, Hua Hin, Chumphon, Koh Chang, Koh Kood, Koh Mak, Koh Phangan, Koh Samui, Pattaya, Trat, Nakhon Si Thammarat, and Krabi connecting to destinations such as Koh Tao, Koh Phangan, Koh Samui, Surat Thani, and eastern islands. Ruea Chor Maetapee uniquely serves Koh Tao to Khao Lak, Khao Sok, Koh Lanta, Koh Phi Phi, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, and Phuket, plus Surat Thani departures to Ao Nang, Hat Yai, Khao Lak, Khao Sok, Koh Lanta, Koh Phi Phi, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Phuket, and Railay. Book these distinct options at ThailandBoatTickets.com with support from our 24/7 Virtual Ticket Assistant (VTA) on WhatsApp, Instagram DM, Telegram and Facebook.
Routes both operators run
Same departure and destination — true head-to-head options.
Price distribution
How ticket prices spread across each operator's routes (THB).
Boonsiri Sealine tickets usually fall between 920 THB–1,560 THB (median 1,290 THB), while Ruea Chor Maetapee between 460 THB–1,160 THB (median 810 THB). On the whole, Ruea Chor Maetapee offers the cheaper tickets.
Which should you pick?
Frequently asked questions
Boonsiri Sealine vs Ruea Chor Maetapee